NeuroNova Centre for Mindful Solutions

  • NeuroNova Centre for Mindful Solutions in Ontario, Canada

Welcome

Mindfulness-Based Chronic Pain Management (MBCPM™) is a programme developed in Toronto, Canada by Dr. Jackie Gardner-Nix, a physician and University of Toronto Associate Professor, who has worked as a chronic pain consultant for many years at University of Toronto pain clinics, including at St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto.  Based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) originated by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the USA several decades ago, it has been developed into a Trauma-Informed and Trauma-Sensitive, researched pain management programme, customized to the needs of those dealing with chronic pain. It is also effective for stress management.

Professional Trainings: NeuroNova Centre (NNC) conducts professional trainings in collaboration with the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, on site and online.  NNC mentors and accredits health care professionals who take the MBCPM™ programme back to their own communities, increasing its accessibility within health care and corporate environments.  Since 2012 more than 300 health care professionals have attended the NNC professional trainings.

Patient participants of MBCPM™ courses:  Since 2002, over 12,000 patients/clients have participated in the MBCPM™ courses in Ontario, often via telemedicine, help manage their chronic pain conditions. Classes are conducted in meeting rooms at hospitals, health facilities and corporations.

The MBCPM™ course:  Life skills, self-care and awareness are enhanced in this self-management course. Participants learn the principles and practice of mindfulness, and how the practice reduces mental and physical suffering and improves healing. Mindfulness can help in becoming less reactive to challenges, and remaining calmer and more pain-controlled when interacting with family, friends, colleagues, employers, and insurers.

The Stress version is a parallel trauma-informed/sensitive curriculum with accompanying workbook and meditations.

Alumni courses with workbooks have been developed to add to the basic MBCPM™ course: MBCPM™ Advanced Review (revision of the basic course); Emotional Skills; and Lumina Spark. Facilitators professionally trained in delivering the MBCPM™ course can also teach the stress course version (MBCSM), the Advanced Review course, and can apply to be trained in the Emotional Skills course. Lumina Professional training is via Lumina Learning Canada.

NNC produces the course curriculum for the MBCPM™ professional trainings, course materials for client courses, and acts as a mentoring and consulting hub. Both the Pain and Stress workbooks, and recorded pain formal practices, are available in French. 

This website helps you to locate Courses (clients/patients) and Trainings (professional trainings).

Meet the Team

  • Debbie, Social Media Coordinator

    Debbie is currently managing Social Media for NNC and assists with other Team NNC functions where needed. She has co-facilitated some MBCPM courses since taking the MBCPM™ Facilitator Training and Practicum in 2014 and 2015.  Originally employed with Durham Region Social Services for twenty-five years,  she came to the NNC professional training with a Certification as a Read more

  • Joan, Evaluations and Assessment Coordinator

    Coordinates end-of-course patient evaluations for all facilitators, to ensure quality control. She assists with materials assembly and administration at trainings. Read more

  • Katherine, Manager, Corporate Trainings

    From her perspective of a long career specializing in Occupational Health, Safety, and creation of Healthy Workplace in large organizations, Katherine assists NNC with corporate enquiries and customization of corporate programs.  She also assists with communications including newsletter, dispatch of certificates for trainees, and technical design of NNC forms and PowerPoints. Read more

  • Scott

    Provides volunteer support at on-site and off-site professional trainings, workshops and presentations. Read more

  • Kendra, Communications and Materials Coordinator

    Provides website and dispatch support, legal communications and filing documentation. She assists with materials ordering, assembly and administration at trainings. She has been with NNC for 15 years. Read more

  • Dr. Jackie Gardner-Nix, Founder & Medical Director

    Twitter Dr. Gardner-Nix was a Chronic Pain Consulting Physician, Department of Anaesthesia, Pain Clinic, St Michael’s Hospital until 2018, and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Anaesthesia, University of Toronto. She is also on staff at Northumberland Hills Hospital, Cobourg. She trained in the renowned Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program Read more

  • Margie, Programme Support

    A chronic pain sufferer herself, Margie provides committed, trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive support at patient courses. She also volunteers at trainings for facilitators both online and onsite, adding valuable feedback about highly sensitive persons’ perceptions—as she is one!  Margie also supports the entire NNC team. Read more